Wishing for Snow

As I look out on the dreary grey that has become the standard color for this winter, I think back on last year’s winter white and wish for snow. Yes, I know it was a bit extreme and highly inconvenient – not to mention downright dangerous, at times – but being forced to stay home or sharing a bus that is packed as tightly as a sardine can, reeking with the overpowering odor of wet wool, has its charms. Last winter’s snow storms had some unexpected benefits. The weather forced everyone into survival mode and brought regular routines to a standstill. Sometimes a standstill can be magical and allow us some time to bond with our kids, get to know our neighbors and enjoy a slower pace of life.

If you can’t have the real thing, how about creating some snow of your own? Here are a few items to help whiten your day. (You might send a bit of your snow up to Vancouver. The Olympic committee wouldn’t mind a bit of extra snow right now…)

Books about Snow:

Big Wolf & Little Wolf: The Little Leaf that Wouldn’t Fall, by Nadine Brun-Cosme and Olivier Tallec
Little Wolf dreams of touching the last little leaf high up in a bare tree. Big Wolf, doting friend that he is, decides to climb to the top of the slippery, snow-covered tree in order to make Little Wolf’s dream come true. As Little Wolf waits below in the falling snow, he starts to wonder if the leaf is worth all the trouble and to worry about the safety of his companion.

The Smallest Snowflake, by Bernadette Watts
Snowflakes everywhere are floating down to mountains, forests and villages. Each snowflake seems to know where to go, but the Smallest Snowflake is having difficulty deciding where to land. The snowy landscapes depicted in this lovely picture book will have you imagining yourself into an enchanting winter vignette.

Snip, Snip… Snow!, by Nancy Poydar
This is the perfect picture book for the winter we are currently experiencing. Sophie is annoyed because there hasn’t been any snow, so she decides to make do and create her own snow, inviting her classmates to join in the fun.

Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
This award winning book, beautifully illustrated with Mary Azarian’s woodcut prints, tells the story of Wilson Bentley’s fascination with snow and his quest to photograph snowflakes in order to study their unique shapes.

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder, by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson
Learn how snow crystals form and the shapes they can take in this exploration of the science of snow. Photographs of snow crystals and concise text make this a perfect winter book for young scientists.

Waiting for Winter, by Sebastian Meschenmoser
Squirrel usually sleeps through winter. This year, he has decided to stay awake and see snow, but waiting for snow is boring and staying awake is more challenging than Squirrel expected, even with some help from Bear and Porcupine.